Traction attachment for vehicles



E. I. CALDWELL.

TRACIIII ATTACHMENT FR VEHICLES. MILISATIN` H LED AI\UG.22. 1918.

LBQQEZB. Patented Nw. 18, 19m

3 SHEETS-SHEEI I.

I l l I 1. I I I I I E. CALUWELL.- TRACUON ATTACHMEV FR VEHICLES.

m13 AUG.22.1918.

AYF'LICATBGN y n Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'MA HW, A j 'i lllilllillll im E. P. CALDWELL.

TRACTTON ATTACHMENT EUR VEHICLES.

APPLICAUON FILED AUG-212.1918.

Pgmjtented NOT?. 18, i919.

LSQQEQS.

a SHEETS SHEET 3.

ness,

. EDWARD P. CALDWELL, OFv HARVEY, ILLINOIS.

TRACTION ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

Application filed August 22, 1918. Serial No. 250,956.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EnwAiiD P. CALDwELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Harvey, in the county of'Cooli and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traction Attach- 'ments for Vehicles', of which the following vis a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Tractors arey ordinarily provided withl wheels the-rims of w'liich have bolted to I the outer face thereof projecting lugs or cleats that dig into the ground over' which the machine moves to prevent slipping, as

is well understood. Inl some instances, howobj eet of my invention to provide the wheels of such a machin'e with radially-movable .lugs or cleats that can be projected when desired, and to the extent desired.4oi' be retracted so as to be entirely ont of contact with the surface of the ground or roadway,- and also to provide means whereby .such -projecting and withdrawing of the lugs or'cleats willjbe at all times wholly under the control of the driver of the machine, such operations being capable of being performed without stopping the movement of the machine.l It is a further object of the invention to provide wheels so .equipped with such radially-inovable lugs or cleats with animproved resilient tire, some of the securing members therefor being slotted to allow the projection there-o through of the lugs and acting to brace such lugs to a vgreater extent than ifrthey were braced only by the walls of the slots in the, wheel-rim through which the lugs also project. I accomplish these objects by the means shown in the drawings and hereinafter particularly described. That which I believe to be-lnew and desire to cover by this application will be forth in the claims In the drawings' Figure l is a plan view of a portion of the frame-work of a tractor with its two rear driving wheels connected the. :-,\vitli,

4which the lugs or cleats are .the iii'ii and hub together.

and the other being in sectiom-the radially-inovable lugs or cleats carried by the wheels being represented in their withdrawn or inoperative` position. The means by simultaneously moved outward by the driver are also represented in this view;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the wheels with the lugs or cleats thereof projected into operative position, a small portion of the rim and tire of the wheel being in section; Q

Fig. 3 is a central section through the lwheel with the parts vin position as in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View, partly broken away, of the wheel and the means for coinpelling a projection of 4the lugs or cleata* the view being taken from the inner side of the wheel, and the lugs or cleats being shown projected;

Fig. 5 is a detail, being a perspective View of a portion of the resilient tire;

Fig. 6 is a detail, being a perspective view of one of the slotted strips -that secure the tire in place and through the slot in which one of the lugs or cleats projects; and

Fig. 7 is a similar view. of'one of the other tire-securing strips.

Referring to the several figures of the drawings: 140 indicates a portion of the framework of a tractor of any ordinary construction. the rear portion of the framework lO and having rotatably mounted on each of its ends a Wheel-the two wheels being identical in construction. 12 indicates the wheel riin7 13 the hub thereof and lli a heavy web that lies centrally of the rim and connects, Such rim and ll indicates an axle aflixed to'A web are preferably formed integral. The l web is shown as lying alongside of an annular flange 15 formed on the hub, and is bolted tosucli flange by a series of long boltsl, said bolts each having formed on it in the coi'istruction shown at about its center 'a head 17 which lies against the face of the flange l5; and by tightening up the nuts i8 on the screw-threaded ends of such bolts the web and hub member are tightly clamped together. yllacli of the^ bolts 1G is much longer thannis necessary for merely clamping the web and hub together, and they are so 'made in order to serve as supports for a sliding member hereinafter de` scribed. The roller bearings 19 are shown as interposed Ietweeii the hub and the sha ft,

20 indicates a cap placed over the end of the hub, such cap bing secured as shown by the bolts 1G which pass through an an nular flange of the cap. 2l indicates an internal gear secured upon the inner tace ot the rim 12 near its inner edge, by means ot' which power is applied to the wheel through a gear 22 tast on the end of a drive shaft 23 as usual.

4Zet indicates a series of lugs or cleats each being in the Yt'orm of a heavy fiat plate. These cleats are arranged radially ot' the wheel and each is movably fitted in one of a series of slots 25 formed through and transversely ot' the rim In line with each slot 25 in the rim there is formed in the .web lvl a radially disposed slot :26. These slots 2G also receive vthe lugs or cleats 24, such slots being ot' sul'licient depth to permitthe lugs or cleats to bev drawn in out ot' operative position-that is, below the outer contacting portions of the, tire hereinafter mentioned. To the inner edge ot' each lug or cleat is secured one end ot a contractile coiled spring 2i', the other end ot which, in the construction shown, is attached to a link 28 that is secured to one ol the bolts 1G. Such springs normally tend to draw the lugs or cleats inward to the limit permittcd bythe slots 26 that they respectively enter. Inasmuch as each lug or cleat when in its outward or operative position has a considerable portion lying within its slot 26 it will be very elfectually braced by the walls of such slot and by reason thereotl the strains imposed against its face as it digs into the earth will not damage it. y By reason ot' the thickness of the web 1l a very substantial support is thus given to the lug or cleat. 29 indicates a resilient tire applied to the rim vof the wheel, and preferably resting in a shallow recess in such riin as shown. As shown, the tire used is formed with alternate ridges and grooves eXtending transversely. the parts being so proportioned that onel ol? the said grooves otthe tire comes opposite each slot 25 and in such grooved portion Ythere is formed a slot registering with the underlying groove in the rim. n each ot said slotted grooves is secured a cross-strip Il() whose under face is curved to fit the groove and tln'oughwhieh cross-strip is a slot 31 in registry with the underlying slots in the rim and tire. These cross-strips 30 therefore serve not only as a means for aiding in holding the tire inv lace, but they serve as an additional braclng means lor the lugs or cleats to bear against when projected into operative posi tion. 32 indicate other 'cross-strips that rest in other and smaller grooves ofthe tire and are employed as additional holding pieans for the tire. y

33 indicates a head, annular in shape as shown, said head in the construction shown with radially having an opening centrally therethrough in which is fitted a thimble 3l the edges of which are turned at right' angles to t'orm front' and rear flanges which lie snugly against the opposite faces of the annular head, although not so snugly as to prevent the required smooth turning` of the head on the thimble. This thimble slidingly mounted upon the axle member '11, and to the [lange lying against the inner tace of the head 253 is securely riveted an annular plate 35. Through the head there are formed a number ol holes corresponding in number to the number ol the long bolts 1G and ot' a size. to permit such bolts to have a sliding tit-therein. The thimble Si and plate while slidingly mounted upon the axle .l1 will be prevented from turning with respect to suchaxle by means of a feather or key, as shown in Fig. 4. 36 indicates a flexible connection, preterablv a lshort piece ot' steel cable, that is fastened at one end to a lug. or cleat 24 near the inner edge of such 'lug or cleat. Such conf nection extends to and over one or more small pulleys 3T and thence around another pulley 3S and through'an opening in thev head 33 and there secured. 'Each lug or `cleat is 4} n 'ovided with a flexible connect-ion 36 arranged as described. Each set of pulleys 37 1s secured to a bracket 37 securely aliXed to the web 1l adjacent to the' rim 12, and each pulley 38 is secured to a bracket 39 alhxed to said web adjacent to 1 the flange l5 of the hub 13.

4() indicates two flexible connections--v preferably steel cableseach ailixed at one end to oppositely located ears 41 projecting from the face of the plate 35 that is connected with the thumble 34. Such cables pass around a pulley 4-2 which is here shown as pivot-ally mounted on the axle 11, and at. their 4forward ends they are connected with alever ,43 mounted on a suitable portion oi the framework within easy reach ot' the driver of the machine. As shown in Fig. l. two sets of the cables 40 will be. provided, one set for each Wheel, and each set running around its; own roller 42, but both sets will be secured to the operating lever 43 so that the mechanism ,of

both wheels that is 'operated by means of a pull on the cables l0 will be moved 'simultaneously. It will be understood, of course, that the operating lever will` be provided with the usual spring latch or dog that engages in a notched segment alongside of the lever as usual. l

. lVith a tractor 4having.wheels rovided lisposed lugs or ceats arranged as herein lshown and described, it is Aevident that with such lugs or cleats in their retracted position as in Fig. l, the machine can be moved over a road or other surface with no damage to such surface other than lioo such as would be caused by the mere weight of the machine alone, for the ridges of the resilient tire are all that make contact with the surface ot' the road. At lsuch times the lugs or cleats willbe positively held in their retracted'position hv the action of. the coiled springs QT. When, however, it is desired to make use of the lugs or cleats for greater traction all 'hatis necessary to be done to cause them to move outward into operative position is for the driver, by means of the lever 4,3, to exert a pull on the cables 4() which will cause the thimbles 3l and the heads 33 that are rotatably mounted thereon respectively to be moved along the axle 11 1d through the short cables 31' that 'are connected respectively with the various lugs or cleats such lugsor cleatsA will he forced outward against the power of their respect-ive springs. The driver, of course, can regulate the extent to which the cleats shall be projected by the extent to which he moves the lever 43, and when projected to the desired extent they will bev locked in such position by the locking ot' the lever to its segment, The head 33'011 each wheel will be guided in its'movements in and out not only by the axle 1l but by the various bolts 16, which, as stated, have a sliding tit in the holes in the head and -by reason of such engagement with the bolts will rotat-e with the wheel, while the thim- 4 ble, by reason of being keyed to the axle,

will be prevented from axialk movements. While I 'have referred to the head ,being movable hack and forth on the axle, which, broadly speaking, is the case, it is of course to be understood that the head, while surroundino' the axle, is not in actual Contact therewit i, but has the non-rotating thimble interposed between it and the axle.

lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a vehicle, the combination of a frame, an axle, a supporting wheel journaled on said axle, a plurality of cleats movably mountf. l in openings in the rim of said wheel, a member slidingly mounted on said axle and movable toward and from the hul ol' the wheel, a flexible connection extending from each cleat to Saidmen'iber,`l guides carried 4by the wheel and around which said flexible connections pass, and means carried by the frame for sliding said member along the axle to cause the cleats to be forced outward beyond.A therim of the wheel.

2. In a vehicle, theA combination 0I a frame,'an axle` a supporting wheel journaled on said axle and comprising a rim, a flanged hub and a web extending between the rim and huh, boltsl connecting said web to the flange olf the hub, a head .slidinglv mounted on the axle and also on project-ing end portions of said bolts, meansl carried by the frame for moving said head on said axle and bolts. a plurality of' cleats movably mounted in openings through the rim of the wheel, and means` connecting each cleat with said head' to cause their projection when said head is moved in one direclion.

3. In a vehicle` the combination ot' a frame, an axle, a supporting wheel journaled on .said axle and wnnprising a rim and a flanged hub connected together, a plurality of rods projecting from the inner face, of the flange ol the, hub and parallel with the axle, a head slidingly mounted on the axle and on said rods, means carried by the frame foi' sliding said head along` Isaid axle. and rods, a pluralityv ot' cleats n'iovably mounted in openings through the rim of the wheel, and means connecting each cleat with said head to cause their projection beyond the rim when said head is moved in one direction.

it. In a vehicle, the combination of a Trame, an axle.` ay supporting whecl'journaled on said axle and `coniprising a rim and a flanged hub connected together, a plurality of rods projecting from the inner face of the flange ofthe hub and parallel with the axle, a head slidingly mounted on the axle and on said rods, means carried by the frame for sliding said head along said axle and rods, a plurality of cleats movably mounted in openings through' the rim ofthe wheel, means connecting each cleat with said head to cause their projection beyond the rin'i when said head is moved in one direction, and other means tending to normallv hold said cleats retracted. i

5. In a vehicle, the cou'ibination of' a frame, a supporting wheel therefor, a plurality ol cleats movably supported in openings in the rim ot' the wheel, means for simultaneously moving said cleats outward through said openings, a ,tire on said rim provided on its outer face with transverse recesses havingopenings' therethrough in registry with the openings in the rim, and strips secured in said recesses provided also with openings in registry with the said openings in the tire and rim.

EDW'ARD I). CALDWELL. 

